JAMMU: While 800 Hindu migrants have been brought back from Chamba to their homes in Seru Jagasar and Kuthiar villages of Gandhov tehsil of Doda district a large number of Muslims from several parts of the district have started migrating to different places.
Reports said that a series of incidents of torture of arrested youths _ by security forces coupled with “harassment” caused to civilian Muslim families have resulted in exodus of Muslims to Barihal Jammu and Doda. Eyewitness accounts said that in Gandhov area hardly any Muslim youth could be seen moving about. Official sources while confirming it say that cither they have gone into hiding in the upper regions of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar area or have gone across the border.
In Nallti village of Bhaderwah panic gripped people when the security forces killed three youths. When people staged a protest demonstration they were beaten up “ruthlessly” in which 88 civilians were injured. As the news of this incident circulated several Muslim families from adjoining villages migrated to safer places Torture of one Abdul Latif a government employee in Gandho area forced several Muslim youths to flee in panic.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 8, 1994
